State Program Awards $6.8M For SEI Local Governments To Fix Roads

Posted On September 21, 2017

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By Mike Perleberg

Awards for the 2017 Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative were announced Wednesday, September 20. Construction of a new connector road between U.S. 50 and Minger Road in Greendale is funded by an award from the program’s inaugural year in 2016. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Millions of dollars in state funding will fix up roads, streets, highways and byways across southeastern Indiana.

More than $150 million in matching funds from the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative, now in its second year, will help local governments across the state complete road projects.

“Superior local roads are a key factor in maintaining Indiana’s reputation as the Crossroads of America,” Governor Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday. “I am encouraged that a record number of communities applied for and received funds this year, and I’m grateful to lawmakers for increasing the funding to sustain the community crossings initiative.”

In order to be awarded Community Crossing funding, cities, towns and counties must provide matching funds. A 50-percent match is required for larger communities, while smaller communities must only match 25-percent.

The local governments applied through the Indiana Department of Transportation.

“Across Indiana, local communities are recognizing the need to invest in fixing and improving their infrastructure,” said INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness. “The projects funded today will help build smoother roads and stronger bridges in every corner of the state.”

Here is a breakdown of the $6.83 million in matching funds awarded to local governments in our area:

City of Aurora $442,500

Town of Brookville $210,000

Dearborn County $840,967

Town of Dillsboro $313,002

Town of Holton $176,657.25

City of Lawrenceburg $510,186

Town of Milan $235,500

Town of Moores Hill $300,000

Ohio County $750,000

Town of Osgood $670,000

Ripley County $833,700

City of Rising Sun $501,357.75

Switzerland County $869,850

Town of Versailles $181,753.80

Projects eligible for funding through Community Crossings include road and bridge preservation, road reconstruction, intersection improvements, small structure replacements, guardrail replacements and signs.

This is the second year in which the Community Crossings program has distributed road funding to local governments. More than 460 communities applied for funds this year, a 48-percent increase from 2016.

Southeastern Indiana State Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) co-authored the legislation creating the program in 2016.

“In order to continue our reputation as the Crossroads of America, maintaining our roads and bridges is critical,” Frye said Thursday.

INDOT estimates that $190 million in matching funds will be available to local communities in 2018.